GZA, Bun B, Talib Kweli, Wale on Peter Bjorn and John Hip-Hop Mixtape

(swiped from Pitchfork Media)

Ever since Kanye West blew blog minds by rapping over "Young Folks" two years ago, Peter Bjorn and John have become the go-to indie band for rappers looking to cross over to the indie rock world. Cue mixtape maven Mick Boogie, who worked with PB&J directly on the forthcoming free mixtape Re-Living Thing.

The mix pairs MCs including Bun B, Wale, Rhymefest, GZA, and Three 6 Mafia with reworked versions of tracks from the Swedish band's latest LP, Living Thing, according to an MTV report. Remixers include Jazzy Jeff, the Kickdrums, and Apple Juice Kid. Get a taste for the project with a remake of "Nothing to Worry About" featuring Wale right here.

Re-Living Thing hits this thing called the internet on August 27. Check out a partial list of songs and guests to be included on the tape below:

Re-Living Thing:

J. Cole and GZA: "The Feeling" (remixed by Marco Polo)
Kardinal Offishall, Donnis, and Heno: "It Just Don't Move Me" (remixed by Jet Audio)
Big Sean and Black Milk: "Just The Past" (remixed by nVMe)
Wale, Young Chris, and Rhymefest: "Nothing To Worry About" (remixed by the Kickdrums)
Bun B: "Losing My Mind" (remixed by 6th Sense)
Freebass 808 and Amanda Blank: "Living Thing" (remixed by Apple Juice Kid)
Talib Kweli: "I Want You" (remixed by William Russell / Good Life Mike)
Three 6 Mafia and Trouble Andrew: "Lay It Down" (remixed by the Kickdrums)
Big Pooh, Chaundon, and Phil Nash: "Stay This Way" (remixed by Jazzy Jeff)
Naledge and Mickey Factz: "Blue Period Picasso" (remixed by nVMe)
88 Keys, Outasight, and 6th Sense: "4 Out Of 5" (remixed by 6th Sense)
U-N-I: "Last Night" (remixed by Remot)

Talib Kweli, David Banner Head Hip Hop Live! Tour

(swiped from Pitchfork Media)

For the second consecutive year, a few excellent MCs will throw their best verses over a 10-piece live band accompaniment from Rhythm Roots Allstars as part of the Hip Hop Live! Tour.

This year's participants in the tour are Talib Kweli, David Banner, Little Brother, and B.O.B. Kweli and Banner are on board for all dates, while Little Brother will pass opening duties to B.O.B. midway through. The fun begins September 28 in San Diego.

Hip Hop Live! (Talib Kweli + David Banner):

09-28 San Diego, CA - Canes *
09-30 Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues *
10-02 San Francisco, CA - Grand Ballroom *
10-03 Portland, OR - Roseland *
10-04 Eugene, OR - McDonald Theater *
10-05 Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo *
10-08 Boulder, CO - Fox Theater *
10-10 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
10-13 Bloomington, IN - Bluebird *
10-18 Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre #
10-19 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel #
10-20 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club #
10-23 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero #
10-24 Boston, MA - Showcase Live! #
10-25 New York, NY - Nokia Theatre #

* with Little Brother
# with B.O.B.

Stream: B.O.B.: Various Tracks
Stream: Little Brother: Various Tracks
MP3: Talib Kweli: Momma Can You Hear Me
Video: David Banner [ft. Chris Brown]: Get Like Me [from the The Greatest Story Ever Told LP]

Things to do this weekend! And Yeah, you pronounce his name "Kweli..."

Tonight, you can catch Talib Kweli signing albums at the Electric Fetus. Goes down at 7pm this evening, all folks are welcome!

Saturday, Rock the Bells is in full effect at the Myth Nightclub. But you can check out a live DJ and guest set by Talib Kweli at Foundation Nightclub afterwards!

Yeah, I know, this weekend is a Kweli weekend. But hey, better than nothing!

Enjoy yourselves this weekend!

Short Album Reviews, in case you were wondering...

Swizz Beatz drops his 2nd album, "One Man Band" fueled by the hit "It's Me Bitches." On the plus side the CD is short and to the point, clocking in at a mere 40 minutes. His signature synth production is all over it, but we do see him get into bouts of sampling. For example, he quotes the chorus for the Wu-Tang Clan's "Cream" in "It's Me Bitches." However, we know Swizz ain't that much a rapper, he just has a knack for making a hit, and thankfully that's why this CD is pretty short and sweet.

M.I.A. returns with her 2nd album "Kala," which is largely void of producer Diplo, who plays more an A & R role for this release. This CD was largely produced by M.I.A. herself and Switch, until Timbaland chimes in on the very last track. Some of the stuff to look for on this CD is the song "Boyz" which has a very wonderfully shot video, the somewhat African tinged groove of "Hussel," featuring Afrikan Boy, and also the rooster cluck meets bagpipe filled sounds of "BirdFlu." You can't really box this CD in as one type of genre, and that's where this CD succeeds in. It's just good all around party jams tinged with lightly laden political and social stances.

Talib Kweli returns with his 3rd release, "Eardrum," which is laden with production from Madlib, Pete Rock, and several others. Fueled by "Listen!!!" other guests make appearances on there like Norah Jones, Kanye West, Roy Ayers, Justin Timberlake ("The Nature Of Things), KRS-One ("The Perfect Beat"). The change this go round finds Kweli doing a lot better than his last album, the short but haphazard album "The Beautiful Struggle." At 20 tracks clocking in around 60+ minutes, its a great whirlwind of lyricism and creativity. He will be performing a CD Release show on Friday at the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. And on Saturday after Rock the Bells, he'll be doing a DJ and guest appearance at Foundation Nightclub.

Talib Kweli Live @ Electric Fetus

Rock The Bells After Party!

If you're in need of something to do, Foundation Nightclub is holding a nice after party with Talib Kweli.

Originally the honorable ?uestlove of the Roots was set to spin, but that has changed since he and the band are part of the Dave Matthews Band Tour.

Enjoy yourselves!

UGK "Underground Kingz": Best Southern Album This Year?

Bun-B and a fresh out of prison Pimp C return with their 5th album "Underground Kingz." Many of those who are in the know about UGK are of the presumption that the group has never slacked after their much talked about relic "Ridin' Dirty," to which every rapper from Jay-Z to many others have sung its praises. Well, this time around they are back with a 2 disc set, 13 tracks a piece on each disc. And surprisingly enough, it ranks as possibly the best double disc rap has seen to this day.

Whereas 2pac, Biggie, Jay-Z and Nas fumbled by going between really horrendous to really awesome, UGK remains consistent on each song, regardless of the subject matter that reigns on this 2 disc set. Fresh out of his stint of prison, Pimp C unleashes the wonderful charm that made us love him on "Pocket Full Of Stones," and his cadence still reigns supreme. Meanwhile on this disc, Bun B remains intact, his swagger and his knack for vocabulary very much showing why he's very much has the threshold of the South by the waist and holding it as if it were his birthright.

However, that all changes on the duo's first single, "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)." OutKast lends a helping hand and blasts it off into outer space with Andre 3000's welcome back to rap streak, but rest assured the people involved with the song make it something to welcome new listeners as well as ensure the fans of yore that the group has not lost their touch. DJ Paul & Juicy J produce the track, and have chosen to go with what made "Stay Fly" such a hit, a blood curdling soul sample gone entertainingly crunk awry, while all four people, from Andre 3000 down to Big Boi's finishing and somewhat screwed and chopped verse. In addition, there's many other tracks, like the car tribute "Chrome Plated Woman."

Their usage of guest spots are very nicely done on this release as well. Scarface and Raheem Devaughn croon on the hook lines, while such guests from old school legends Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane, to others such as Talib Kweli, Dizzee Rascal, Rick Ross, Slim Thug, and many others. Overall, what a victorious welcome back to the game, and not only that, but also a vindication so sweet for Pimp C who recently was released from prison. Keep up the good work fellas.